Jusuf Nurkic never strays too far from the court. The second-year Nuggets center is drawn to whatever action is happening on the team’s Pepsi Center practice court. And right now there’s plenty of it, as the Nuggets’ young players are preparing for summer league.

But Nurkic has enough work of his own to do. He’s rehabbing after surgery in May to repair a partially torn left patella tendon and that’s going to cost him a summer in which he hoped to work on his game.

Though the timetable is in the four-month range, his return date is unknown.

Nurkic does not sound optimistic he’d be ready by training camp. Instead he’s focusing on being 100 percent whenever he does return.

“I’m going to be patient,” he said. “Everything is going good. (Trainers and doctors) tell me that everything is good. I feel so good, but I must be patient day-by-day.”

On the prospect of being ready for training camp: “It’s not important for now,” Nurkic said. “Let’s think about the next 15 years, not one month before, or one less. I just make sure my career is not (hurt) again with this so I just want to make sure I’m fine. It’s not a big deal. I just want to make sure that when I’m back, I’m 100 percent here.”

Nurkic had a solid rookie season, even earning some early looks in the rookie of the year race, before ankle and knee injuries derailed the latter part of his season. Nurkic knew his knee was bothering him, but he didn’t know the full extent until tests were done on it after the season.

“I knew it was bad. I didn’t know it was really bad,” he said. “Because I’m out now, four to six months and it’s really tough. But now I know what’s going on. It just takes time. I don’t want to hurry. When I come back I want to make sure everything is fine.”

Keeping the proper perspective on the situation has helped him stay away from being impatient with the rehab process.

“I’m young, and that’s the problem,” Nurkic said. “But I will, because it’s my career. I need to be patient. I still can play, it’s not worse. So I’m happy about that, and so far so good.”

Barton brothers connection

While his brother, Will, is working out the details of a contract to bring him back to the Nuggets, Antonio Barton is working to stand out.

Barton, a 6-foot-2 point guard, is playing with the Nuggets summer league team, and, above all else, is grateful for the chance.

“It’s exciting,” Barton said. “Being able to play with him on this level, it’s exciting.”

Barton was brought to the attention of the Nuggets staff by general manager Tim Connelly’s brother, Dan. Prior to this opportunity, his first summer league, Barton played in Ukraine. He played his college ball at Memphis, graduating in three years with a degree, then transferred to Tennessee to finish his career in 2013-14. He averaged 7.5 points per game as the starting point guard of a Vols team that advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

What has Will told him about the Nuggets?

“He just told me it’s a good organization,” Barton said. “He told me to come in and work hard, get up-and-down and play defense.”

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